The Three Best Solutions for Basement Waterproofing

Keeping your basement dry seems simple enough with a few repairs here and there. Besides, you think "A flood couldn’t possibly happen" because you have never experienced one. If you don’t have already have adequate basement waterproofing, then your luck is sure to run out. Luckily there are several time-tested waterproofing solutions to keep your basement dry all year round.

1. Unclog Your Gutters

Although it’s often seen as a once-a-year job when spring cleaning, if your gutters build up with leaves, sticks and debris, it could spell a basement flood. Gutters aid in the flow of water away from the roof and towards the yard. However, a clog can cause water to leak down the exterior wall and into your basement through cracks in the foundation, an especially common phenomenon in older homes. That’s why it’s important to check your gutters regularly for clogs. To ensure your gutters are always doing their job, install leaf guards and a downspout extender to send water at least 10 feet away from the home.

2. Change the Grade

Changing the grade sounds expensive and would require a bulldozer, but in reality it just involves dropping down some soil. Lay top soil around the exterior of your home at a slope of ¼ inches per foot so rain water flows towards the lawn and not your foundation. It’s as easy buying soil and raking it smooth – see, your garden is more than pretty landscaping!

3. Install a Drainage Membrane

A drainage membrane and weeping tile is the most effective solution to basement waterproofing, but requires a professional. Toronto-based City Wide Group has been in the waterproofing business for more than 50 years and have saved countless homes from detrimental water damage. Their process involves excavating around the exterior of the home and attaching a rubber bituthane membrane to the foundation. The membrane is the home’s first line of defense; it blocks surface water and ground moisture from entering the basement through cracks in the foundation and forces the flow down towards a weeping tile that leads the water away from the property.